USA > Indiana > Clinton County > History of Clinton County, Indiana : With historical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families, Volume II > Part 47
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Fraternally, Mr. Mckinney belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Pickard, lodge No. 321. He is a member of the Baptist church, and is ever ready to assist them in their noble work. The Republican party has a stanch supporter in Mr. Mckinney.
ERASMUS M. MERRITT.
Although the man who forms the subject of this sketch has passed to another life, the result and proof of his handiwork in the field of agriculture and business remains. He was among the first men to cultivate the lands of Clinton county, and prepare them for the prosperity of future generations. Mr. Merritt obtained success in life by simple and honest effort ; his dealings in the business world were without conceit or deceit, and thus he retained a merited esteem and confidence of the men with whom he was associated.
Erasmus M. Merritt was born December 12, 1849 in Johnson township, Clinton county, and was the son of William and Rachel (Keever) Merritt. William Merritt was a native of Ohio, but died in this county April 12, 1905; the mother also came from Ohio, departing this life on April 9, 1911. Both parents obtained a common school education in their youth. William Merritt spent his life in agricultural work and was a Republican politically. Five children graced his home: Mary, Erasmus (deceased). John (deceased), Margaret and Clinton (deceased).
Erasmus Merritt obtained an education in the graded schools of this county. On November 13, 1884, he was married to Elizabeth Stroup, who was born on July 30, 1850, in Johnson township, and was the daughter of Jacob and Naomi (Debington) Stroup. Mrs. Merritt is a sister of Jacob Stroup, of Kempton, Ind., whose life history is written on other pages of this volume. No children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Merritt, but a niece, Elgie,
ERASMUS M. MERRITT (DECEASED).
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
who married Lon W. Johnson, lives with Mrs. Merritt on the home farm. Our subject was called to his rest November 30, 1910, at the age of sixty-one years.
Mr. Merritt's life was occupied solely with farming, and he was a lover of his green fields and bounteous crops. Besides general farming activities, he raised several varieties of stock including Poland China hogs and a com- mon breed of cattle. The estate comprises one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land, most of it tilled. Fifteen acres of the land is in timber. The home was built by Mr. Merritt.
Fraternally, Mr. Merritt belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Improved Order of Red Men. Politically. he was a supporter of the Republican party.
DANIEL A. BLANCHE.
Michigan township is rich in agricultural holdings, and her farmers are representative and typical of the best in the Hoosier state. Daniel A. Blanche occupies a conspicuous position among these men, and his reputation has been the result of unremitting toil and cooperation with other men. Often he has put his shoulder to a friend's wheel without thoughit of personal benefit. Such qualities stamp a man with the seal of divine approval.
Daniel Blanche was born August 10, 1865 in Howard county, Ind., and moved to that part of Johnson township that afterwards included in Forest township in 1874. In 1902 he moved to Michigan township where he has lived ever since. He is the son of John T. and Mary (Brummit) Blanche. His father was born in France and moved to the United States with his par- ents when a small child, settling in Howard county, Ind., and died in 1910, after an active life in farming and politics. He was a Republican. The mother was born in the state of Ohio in 1835, and died in 1889. Eight chil- dren were born of the union : Patton, Anna, Daniel, Ruth (deceased). Ella, Nicholas, Rinda, and Garfield. John T. Blanche was twice married.
After a good common school education our subject began life as a farmer. With the exception of one year in the hardware business he has con- tinted an agricultural life ever since. He owns one hundred and forty acres, all of which is tillable with the exception of two acres. The land is well tiled and fenced. Besides general farming Mr. Blanche raises Shorthorn and
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Jersey cows and a mixed breed of hogs, also horses. Politically, Mr. Blanche is a Republican and religiously he is a member of the Christian church.
In 1891 he was married to Amanda Jenkins, who was born May 5, 1869, in Michigan township, this county, and was the daughter of Howard and Malicia (Clark) Jenkins. Her mother was a native of this county and her father was a fariner, now retired and living in Michigantown. Mrs. Blanche received a good common school education in her youth. One child has been born to them, Inna, September 21, 1894, now at home.
LAWSON C. MERRITT.
Prominent among the retired agriculturists of Clinton county is Lawson C. Merritt, a well known, respected and popular man, who has been one of the solid supports of the county and aided materially in its rapid growth. Mr. Merritt claims no laurels for his many useful acts in life, but he com- mands the esteem and admiration of the people. He has not confined his efforts to his farm alone but has aided in whatever enterprise he has been asked to join, and which appeared to him to hold some measure of good. As a representative citizen of Clinton county, Mr. Merritt is more than en- titled to a prominent place in a history of that county.
Lawson C. Merritt was born in Johnson township, Clinton county, February 11, 1854, and was the son of John and Harriet (Scott) Merritt. John Merritt was born in Virginia in 1813, was brought to Ohio by his par- ents when a boy and came to Indiana in the 30's. He performed the tasks of the early pioneer and cleared about two hundred acres of land, part of which is now in possession of Lawson C. Merritt. Our subject's grand- father, Adam Merritt, was born and reared in the Old Dominion, and came to Clinton county, after having lived a few years in Coshocton county. O., and entered part of the farm later owned by our subject. John Merritt was married to Helen M. Williams of Ohio and of the union were born two chil- dren, Julia, and an infant who died. Mr. Merritt's second marriage was to Harriet Ann Scott, daughter of James Scott, and of this union was born our subject and seven other children. Mrs. Merritt was born in 1822 in the southern part of Indiana, her parents being carly settlers of this state. They moved to Boyleston, this county, on a farm, where they both died. Mr. Merritt and his wife were members of the Baptist church, and were people
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loved by all who knew them. The mother passed from this earth Decem- ber 11. 1875, and the father died June 7, 1893.
Lawson C. Merritt received- a good common school education in his youth, and was reared on the home farm, where he stayed until he was fifty years of age. At present Mr. Merritt owns two hundred and ninety-five acres of excellent land in the eastern part of the county, which is well im- proved and (quipped with the latest conveniences. His home is modern and the farm buildings are of the latest type. For six years Mr. Merritt served as trustee of Johnson township and was the clerk of Clinton county for the years 1904 to 1912. Mr. Merritt takes an active part in the politics of the day, and is a faithful supporter of the Republican party. In religious affairs he is a Methodist, and fraternizes with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Merritt's brothers and sisters are as follows: Julia, the wife of Eph Edwards, of Hillisburg, this county ; Helen M., died in 1905: Emmazet and Effie, died in infancy ; Sindia, wife of Samuel Armstrong, of Frankfort ; Scott, a farmer of Johnson township, this county and Fourth E., wife of W. N. Barriman of Frankfort.
On April 27, 1876, Mr. Merritt was married to Dorcas L. Pruitt, who was born September 18, 1857, the daughter of Jolm and Nancy J. (Stewart) Pruitt, farmers of Johnson township. The father died in the year 1888, and the mother continued to live on the farm until the buildings were completely destroyed by fire, after which she made her home with our subject until her death in 1910. Mrs. Merritt was one of eight children: Rebecca, wife of William Kent, twin brother of Judge Kent; William O., farmer of Johnson township: Walter, died in 1888 :: Mollie, wife of W. H. Davis, of Forest, Ind .; Dora, widow of Benjamin F. Hillis, of Frankfort: Margaret (de- ceased), and Jennie L., wife of Clint Davis, of Forest.
To Lawson C. Merritt and wife there have been born five children : E. Bon, married to Alta Littell, of Frankfort, a druggist and the father of three children, Martha, Elizabeth and Bon; Walter S., of Kirklin, cashier of First National Bank, married to Bessie Hicks of Frankfort, has one child, James L .; John P., a druggist of Marion, Ind., married to Clara Bristol, has two children, John W. and Margaret L. ; Hubert, a student in pharmacy at Northwestern University of Chicago, will graduate in 1914, and Lawson C., Jr., at home. The latter is a fine piano player and expects to take up pharmacy as a life work. Both Mr. and Mrs. Merritt are enjoying their life, and live comfortably and casily in their beautiful home on North Main street.
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EDWARD STEVENSON
Mr. Stevenson was born at Leesburg Ind. July 24. 1868 He is a son of W. P. and Jennie .1. Stevenson. The fatho was born in Colombiana county, O., May 1, 1840. He was a son of Robert and Agnes Stevenson, born near Glasgow and Dumfrieshire, Scotland, respectively. They spent their earlier years in their native land, finally endgrating to the United States and locating in Ohio, where, with usual Scotch thrift they became very com- fortably established. The mother of our subject was born near Leesburg, Ind., in 1846. She was a daughter of Edward and Josephy Archibald. the father born in County Derry, Ireland and the mother in North Carolina.
W. P. Stevenson grew up and was educated in his native county, and on April 21, 1891, moved to Frankfort, Clinton county where he engaged in the jewelry business until in October, 1910, when he retired and moved to Cata- ract, Ind., where his death occurred August 22, 1911.
Edward Stevenson received a common school education. He located in Frankfort, Ind., April 21, 1891, and engaged at once in teaching the piano, having taught two years prior to this date in Kosciusko and Marshall counties, Ind., with much success.
It being his father's ambition that he become a successful piano teacher, he began the study of this art in earnest when only eight years of age. Dur- ing a residence covering a period of five years in Leadville, Col., he studied with Professor Kahn. In the fall of 1888 he began a two and one-half years' course of piano study with Prof. Albert Joost, the leading piano teacher of Fort Wayne, Ind. In the fall of 1892 he entered the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity and Conservatory, where he pursued a thorough course in piano, harmony, theory, pipe organ and directing, under Frank R. Adams, a graduate of the New England Conservatory and Boston University and one of George E. Whiting's favorite pupils.
As an organist and director Mr. Stevenson has marked ability, and his last work in this line was at the First Methodist Episcopal church, Frank fort, where he was organist and director six and one-half years. His constantly growing class of piano pupils necessitated his giving his entire attention to this branch of work, and in September, 1907 he resigned as organist, since which time he has devoted his attention exclusively to piano instruction.
At his pleasant and modernly appointed residence, GHI South Main street, Mr. Stevenson has one of the best equipped studios in the Middle
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West, and by his practical business and up-to-date methods he offers to students opportunities for study that are equaled or surpassed only by the best schools of music in the United States or abroad.
On September 3, 1901, Mr. Stevenson married Daisy Dean Erwin, a lady of talent and culture, of Bourbon, Marshall county, Ind. Mrs. Steven- son is of Quaker parentage, being the daughter of Matthew and Susan Erwin, and granddaughter of Elisha Erwin, a member of the first anti-slavery society of the United States and a conductor of the "underground railway."
The union of Mr and Mrs. Stevenson has been blessed by the birth of two children, Susan E. and Edward A., Jr.
S. L. MOORE.
Among the noteworthy subjects of Clinton county, whose accomplish- ments qualify them for a place in a history of the scope of this volume, is S. L. Moore, a farmer of Johnson township, and a man universally admired and respected by his contemporaries of the agricultural profession. He has made a success in every enterprise which he has taken an interest in, and has reaped a material reward by reason of his unswerving attention to business, and con- duct along the lines laid down for the good of civilization.
Mr. Moore was born in the township and county where he now resides, on the 31st day of October in the year of 1854. He was the son of John P. and Dulcina (McGinnis) Moore. . His father was born in Kentucky, had a fairly good education and moved to Clinton county after his marriage. The mother was born in Rush county, Ind. and she died July 24, 1901. The father was a farmer and a Republican all of his life. Seven children bore his name : Saralı, William A., Wilford W., Alonzo, John P., Harriett, and S. L.
Our subject was married first on August 10, 1876 to Dulcena Shearer, a native of Clinton county, who was born December 23, 1856, and died July 8, 1898. Eleven children were born of the union : Lily J., Hughie P., Saralı D., Ada Grace, Alonzo S., Wilford II., and John A.
Mr. Moore was married the second time to Jennie Smith in Dubois, De- cember 20, 1899, and there has been no issue. She was born in Union county, Ind.
Before his marriage Mr. Moore followed successfully the carpentering trade. In 1910 he moved to Sugar Creek township where he now lives. He
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owns twenty-one and one-half acres of tillable land. well tiled and adequately fenced. At one time Mr. Moore raised Red hogs, being a well known breeder of that variety. At the present time he carries on general fruit farming, in- cluding berries, potatoes and garden truck of all kinds. He has been very successful in this line and his wares are sought after because he gives a square deal and full measure.
Fraternally, Mr. Moore is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Kirklin, Ind. Politically, he is a Republican. although he has never been a seeker after public office.
VINCENT E. BARNETT.
Close adherence to a fixed principle and that a correct principle, has been the secret of Vincent E. Barnett's success. Constancy is a trait which many people lack and its absence has been responsible for perhaps more failures in, life than anything. The man who is constantly changing from one thing to another, believes this to be true today and that tomorrow, seldom amounts to much in this world. Our subject was fortunate in forming right ideas of life and character when a boy and he has adhered to them tenaciously with the result that he has not only been successful is the matter of material gain but has had the friendship of all who know him.
Mr. Barnett was born at Cicero, Ind., August 5. 1859, the son of a farmer, William A. Barnett, who lived in Johnson county, Ind., a man noted for his industry and honesty, who provided well for his family and developed a good farm under difficulties. He came of an old family of the Blue Grass state that came from Kentucky to Indiana in pioneer days. He received his education in a log cabin and married Mary Ellen Hall, who was a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Edward Hall, who was a gallant soldier in the war of 1812 under Gen. William Henry Harrison. The father of our subject lived to be seventy-two years of age. Politically, he was a Republican, and was a member of the Christian church, in which he served as an official for some time. The death of his widow occurred some ten years ago at an ad- vanced age. She, too, was a good Christian woman, gentle and kind. These parents are buried at Cicero, Ind. They had but four children : Vincent E ..
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of this sketch. two sons who are deceased, and Mis. From Heckston, of Whiting, Ind.
Vincent E. Barnett gren to manhood on the home farm and there worked when a boy. During the winter months he attended the district schools In early life he turned his attention to farming which he followed for several years near New Hope church, three and one-half miles cast of Colfax. He is one of the pioneer rural route mail carriers in this section of Indiana, having begun the service on September 15, 1900, and continuing to the present time, a period of thirteen years, giving eminent satisfaction to both the people and the department, by his faithfulness and courtesy. He envers twenty-five miles daily. His route is north and west out of Colfax. During the period men- tioned he has driven over one hundred thousand miles. His route is No. J. Doubtless there is no more faithful and methodical man in the civil service.
Mr. Barnett was married to Rachael Hinton, a daughter of Samuel Hinton, a well known and popular pioneer in his neighborhood, who did an incalculable amount of good wherever he went. Our subject's wife was reared in her native community and received a common school education. To Mr. and Mrs. Barnett two children were born : Harley, of Sims, Indiana. engaged in the glass works ; and Mrs. Grace M. Dyer, of Spencer, Indiana. The wife and mother was called to her eternal rest in 1891, and in 1893 Mr. Barnett was married at Greencastle, this state, to Mrs. Rheuma 1. Hig- gins, a widow. Of this second union there were no children born, but Mrs. Higgins had three children by her first marriage: Otto. Alonzo, of Colfax. and Mrs. Pearl Teagarden, of Saratoga, Indiana. Mrs. Barnett's maiden name was Wilson.
Fraternally, Mr. Barnett is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 487, having been trustee of the same for six years. He also belongs to the Missoula Lodge of the Improved Order of Red Men, and has been chief of records of this tribe for eight or ten years. He was at one time a member of the United Brethren church at New Hope, in this county, and had the honor of naming that church when it was built and dedicated. Later he transferred his membership to the Christian church in Colfax, but at the present time does not claim membership with any church. He also has the distinction of being the first carrier in the county to put the automobile into the rural mail service.
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA. .
DAVID F. MAISH.
Prominent among the successful men of Clinton county, and one who is well known among the leading farmers throughout the state, is David Fudge Maish, farmer, dairyman, and lecturer, and eldest son of Henry and Eliza- beth Catherine Maish of Center township.
Henry Maish was a son of David Maish, Sr., who was one of the pioneers of Clinton county, emigrating from Perry county, Pennsylvania, in 1836. Henry was a successful stockman and farmer and rendered valuable assistance in the development of the county. He died at the age of seventy- seven years at his home near Frankfort, July 30, 1908.
Elizabeth Catherine, first wife of Henry Maish, and mother of the sub- ject of this sketch was a twin daughter of David Fudge, a pioneer Methodist minister and revivalist, who came from Green county, Ohio, and settled on the farm now known as the Henry Maish homestead. Rev. Fudge was known far and near as an efficient and ardent revivalist at camp meetings, and was called on to officiate at funerals and marriages over a large territory. His death occurred at Battle Ground, Ind., in 1847. Elizabeth Catherine Maish was a deeply pious and religious woman, always ready to assist her husband in his efforts to establish a home and rear the family aright. She died April 27, 1875, at the age of thitry-nine years.
The Maish family in Clinton county have a common origin in one John George Maisch (now spelled Maish), who immigrated from Wurtemburg, Ger- many, landing at Philadelphia, Pa., October 16, 1751. He was a wheelwright by occupation, but early records show that he moved westward from Phila- delphia and settled on a farm in the north part of York county, where he married a lady named Catherine Ulp. Here, near the village of Lisburn, on the banks of Yellow Breeches creek, were born Joseph, David and Fred- erick Maish, also Dolly, Christina and Catherine, daughters. From these sons came the three branches of the Maish family of Ohio, Pennsylvania, In- diana, Iowa, Kansas and Arizona.
Joseph, eldest son of John George, also lived in northern York county, Pennsylvania, and married a lady named Barbara Leidy. To them were born four sons and four daughters as follows: David, Joseph, Samuel and Fred- erick, and Barbara, Betsy, Catherine and Mattie. David, the eldest son of this family was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who came here from Pennsylvania, in 1836, with his wife, Hannah Tyson Maish, and a family of ten children namely: Saralı , George, Jacob, David, Matthias, Joseph, Catherine, Hannah, Henry and Frederick. One child, Lydia, died in Penn-
D. F. MAISH.
MRS. D. F. MAISH.
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sylvania, and four were added to the family after coming to Indiana, to-wit: Mary J., Elizabeth, Martha and James P.
David Fudge Maish was born August 19, 1859 ,in Center township, Clinton county, Indiana, and was reared on the farm near his birthplace. His education was limited to that of the district school supplemented by private study, and three years of travel, in which he visited the principal cities of the east, west and south, gaining much knowledge of our country and its people and industries by personal observation. From ocean to ocean and gulf to lakes, he has traversed all of the principal states of the Union.
Upon reaching his majority, Mr. Maish farmed on the shares upon his father's farm for two years, at which time owing to delicate health, he de- cided to take employment with the Western Publishing House of Chicago. In 1883, he traveled in central and southern Indiana for the Publishing house, having charge of a force of salesmen, and meeting with much success, he was engaged by an eastern firm to go to Massachusetts and Pennsylvania in the spring of 1884.
Returning from the east in the winter of 1885, Mr. Maish again engaged in farming with his father in 1886 and 1887. The winter of 1887-8 was given to an extended trip through the west, in which St. Louis, Hot Springs, Fort Worth, El Paso, Tucson, Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Salt Lake City and Denver were visited.
On Christmas evening, 1889, Mr. Maish, at the age of thirty years, was united in marriage to Florence May Pauley, daughter of William and Eliza- beth Pauley, of Boone county, Indiana.
Mr. Maish now embarked in farming as his life work and chosen voca- tion, locating on a part of his father's land near Frankfort, which he after- wards purchased. Beginning with this small tract and with the use of rented land, Mr. Maish and his faithful companion have added one tract after another until the farm now known as "Clover Leaf Farm," comprises two hundred and fifty-four acres of fine land. Three large barns with commod- ious out buildings have been erected and valuable additions and improvements have been made to the dwelling. Fencing, drainage manures and commercial fertilizers have been given much attention, and but few farms in Indiana are better equipped for farm work. In 1896-7-8-9, the farm was largely devoted to small fruits-strawberry, raspberry, blackerry and grapes. Over one thousand bushels of blackberries alone were produced in each of the years above mentioned.
With added acres dairying was begun on "Clover Leaf Farm" in the year
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1900, which has been the lady specialty from that date to the present time. A herd of some seventy head & high grade Jerseys has been maintained. . the product being sold as bestik till and cream in the local market. "Maish's pure milk" is recognized as die het, and is the standard in the community.
In addition to Mr. Anger me farm he has recently purchased a tract of five hundred and twenty au of farm and timber land in Jasper county, Indiana Ile also operate in ale growing of live stock and the various farm crops needed to provide for i of the dairy herd, the Paulo farm of one hundred and ninety acres of Boone county, and forty five acres leased from his brother, near his head. Corn, wheat and clover in rotation, with all of the corn harvested and indi, ed through the use of silos and the feeding of shock corn to beef casal breeding for use of dairy cattle in barns, and the use of all roughae on tis farm, the residue of which is turned back to the land, is the system of farming practiced by Mr. Maish, which with the thorough system of underdrainage he is continuously pushing forward gives highest results in crop production. Alfalfa is also grown upon the farm as a special forage crop and potatoes for a quick money crop.
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